MOSCOW, April 20. /TASS/. Russia supports the Venezuelan leadership in its steps to normalize the situation in the country, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday after talks with his visiting Chilean counterpart Heraldo Munoz.

"I would like to voice support for the Venezuelan leadership in its efforts, being exerted with assistance from its neighbours in the region, for the purpose of normalizing the situation in the country," Lavrov said. "At this stage an important role was played by solidarity with Venezuela in the face of the United States’ arrogant decisions to label Venezuela as a threat to its foreign policy."

Of late, the United States put pressures on Venezuela and imposed sanctions on that country. The Latin American countries have been urging President Barack Obama to cancel his act declaring Venezuela an "unusual and extraordinary threat to [US] national security."

"The solidarity displayed by the members of the union of South American nations (UNASUR), members of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas (ALBA) certainly contributed to the easing of tensions in relations between Washington and Caracas," Lavrov said. "We welcome this."

He added that this theme, as well as its interpretation at the inter-American summit was discussed at Monday’s meeting with the Chilean foreign minister.

"We support the UNASUR group of countries, which kindly offered their services with the intention to help normalize the situation in Venezuela and keep the political process within the framework of the existing constitution," Lavrov said.